'Aroosa's 'friendship' with Capt unIslamic'

Ludhiana, Dec 26: The Shahi Imam of Ludhiana Jama Masjid today condemned Pakistani scribe Aroosa Alam's ''friendship'' with former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh as ''un-Islamic''.

''Islam is against the relationship of a married woman with other man. The Shariyat does not allow this, Shahi Imam Habib-ur-Rehaman Saani Ludhianvi, said in a statement issued here. The alleged relationship between the controversial scribe and Capt Amarinder is against the tenets of Islam and is a ''bad influence'' on the youth, stressed the Imam of Shahi Jama Masjid here, which is also the headquarter of Muslim Personal Law Board, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Earlier today, Ms Aroosa, while addressing a 'Meet the Press' programme at the Chandigarh Press Club, admitted that Capt Amarinder was her ''good friend''.

She also charged the media for linking her name romantically with the former Chief Minister.

Ms Aroosa, who is in Chandigarh to inquire about the health of Capt Singh's ailing mother, also stressed that ''Islam has never opposed friendship and the concept of universal brotherhood, but unfortunately the religious interpretations have been made by ''illiterate Maulvis''.

UNI